Lucknow | The investigation into the high-profile CGST bribery scandal linked to Jhansi has now expanded into alleged disproportionate assets and financial irregularities. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a fresh case against former CGST Deputy Commissioner Prabha Bhandari for allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to her known sources of income. Investigators claim that the officer accumulated assets and incurred expenditures significantly beyond her declared income during the check period, prompting action under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
According to investigation agencies, the latest development is connected to the larger bribery network that came under scrutiny following a major trap operation conducted in December 2025. The earlier operation involved allegations that CGST officials and associated businessmen demanded bribes in exchange for providing relief in GST-related matters and easing enforcement actions. Financial investigators are now examining property records, banking transactions and investment patterns linked to several individuals connected to the case.
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As per the CBI FIR, Prabha Bhandari is accused of acquiring disproportionate assets between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2025. Investigators stated that during this period, her legitimate income was assessed at nearly ₹90.48 lakh, while assets worth approximately ₹88.51 lakh were allegedly acquired and expenditures amounting to around ₹46.61 lakh were recorded. Based on the preliminary assessment, the agency claims that disproportionate assets worth nearly ₹43.18 lakh have surfaced during the inquiry.
Officials further stated that investigators identified a villa worth nearly ₹69.91 lakh in the “Namo Homes” project in Jhansi allegedly linked to the accused officer. Apart from the property, bank deposits, jewellery, a Tata Harrier SUV and cash recovered during searches have also been brought under the scope of investigation. Agencies are reportedly conducting forensic financial analysis to determine the source of investments and expenditure patterns.
The case is being viewed as a major extension of the ongoing investigation into the alleged bribery network operating within the Jhansi CGST office. Earlier, separate disproportionate assets cases had also been registered against two other CGST-linked officials — Ajay Sharma and Anil Tiwari — in March 2026. Both were arrested following the December 2025 trap operation that triggered the broader corruption probe.
Investigators allege that the bribery network was being used to collect large sums of money in exchange for providing relief in GST matters, delaying enforcement proceedings and offering regulatory favours to business entities. According to sources, the December 31, 2025 trap operation exposed an alleged ₹1.5 crore bribery deal, during which some accused individuals were reportedly caught while accepting nearly ₹70 lakh. Several businessmen and departmental employees also came under the scanner during the investigation.
During raids conducted in connection with the case, agencies reportedly recovered substantial amounts of cash, jewellery, bullion and property-related documents. Officials claim that nearly ₹1.6 crore in cash has been seized so far during different stages of the investigation. The probe team is now analysing banking records, investment trails, property purchases and suspected benami transactions linked to the alleged network.
Sources indicate that investigators are no longer focusing only on individual assets but are examining the entire alleged bribery ecosystem, including financial beneficiaries, intermediaries and associated transaction channels. Agencies suspect that multiple layers of illegal transactions and asset investments may have been routed through different individuals and entities connected to the case.
Financial crime and anti-corruption experts say that methods used to conceal illegal wealth through digital banking systems, layered transactions and real-estate investments have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years. According to experts, advanced data analytics, forensic accounting and coordinated multi-agency investigations are now critical in tracking suspected corruption-linked assets. Investigators are currently probing possible benami investments, undisclosed financial beneficiaries and the wider network that may have profited from the alleged bribery operations.
